For those of you who don't know, my brother Kevin enlisted in the Navy at the beginning of the year. He survived boot camp in the spring, additional training across the U.S. and is finally home for 2 short weeks before being shipped overseas to the Middle East. I come from a long line of family in the Armed Forces, that's where both sets of grandparents met...in WWII. Nevertheless, it still came as a bit of a shock when he broke the news to the family he wanted to join the Navy. He was 20 at the time. What were we to do? Tell him NO?! It's his life and you have to congratulate him for making something out of his life. Better than being 28 and working at Walgreens, but I digress. My father, of course, is uber proud. My mother, is a wreck. Me..just very happy for him that he found something he likes to do. It's weird seeing your baby brother act in such a way that makes YOU feel like the youngest one in the family. Military really does instill discipline and a new way of life. Many people are anti-war and protest all things related. What did that little soldier do to make you not celebrate his coming home? You're anti-war, fine, do not take it out on the service men and women protecting your butt from the stuff they endure. I don't necessarily believe in this "War" but I do believe it's important. What would the world be like had we not taken part in WWII? I don't really even want to know. Bottom line is, war will never be obsolete. People will always be fighting so rather than sit there and be pissy we're over there be a bit patriotic and realize there's millions of families with loved ones protecting your behind. Hang the flag, greet some soldiers at the airport coming home. I don't think you realize just how happy you'd make someone! I love ya Kev, you've made us proud.